Approximately 14 shop stewards claiming to represent more than half of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Unionﾒs 6,500 members complained that the Roy Colebrooke administration is not responding to the concerns of union members and has not provided timely feedback about festering concerns.
They referred to the reported suspensions of some 42 hotel union members from various properties, alleging that the unionﾒs leadership had not demonstrated sufficient interest in the dilemma.
“We are disgruntled because we feel that the organization is heading downhill instead of uphill,” said Harrison Williams, chief shop steward representing the Radisson Cable Beach Hotel.
“First and foremost we want you to understand that we are not here because we are Pat Bainﾒs shop stewards. We are not here because we are [Team Justice] shop stewards. We are here because we are shop stewards of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union. We are here because we represent the people in the workplace and we are here to see that justice is done for the people.”
In late May, Roy Colebrooke lead his slate of candidates to an overwhelming victory at the polls, unseating all of the incumbents in the top executive positions, except for Secretary General Leo Douglas. Colebrooke and incumbent president Pat Bain tied for the presidency. But the matter is under litigation.
Frustrated at the situation that has developed, Stephen Burrows shop steward from the Nassau Beach Hotel posed a number of questions and demanded to know who is running the union. He also claimed that the current administration is not consulting shop stewards nor does it respect them.
“Our union is being watched by the world,” he said.
“We cannot allow persons without experience to continue to bring down our union. The ﾑI for Justice Teamﾒ is going on properties and is not acknowledging the chief shop stewards nor the shop stewards. They are going into meetings without shop stewards. Our organization is bigger than those 12 persons on top of the hill.”
The incensed shop stewards who held a press conference last evening at the office of Frank Carter said they would continue to press for a new vote for the 12 top hotel union positions. And they said they would abide by whatever decision the court makes in the matter.
Nevertheless, some hotel union members like Perry Cox, Atlantis Paradise Island shop steward, made this impassioned plea: “The hotel union is in a state of 50 years backwards if we donﾒt rescue our union and put it in experienced peopleﾒs hands! Next year, our contract expires. Kerzner International phase three has to be negotiated. The convention centre has to be negotiated. Tell me if there is an anchor property on every Family Island – which the prime minister is trying to do – do you think they cut the mustard?”
A “heavy hearted” Maria Roberts also charged that she and her colleagues are not being respected.
“Quite frankly I donﾒt care what they think as long as I am working for my people; standing up for the people in the hotel industry. They can say whatever they want to say, they are not coming on the property and supporting these people. We are the shop stewards. We need to know that our representatives have our back!”
Last month a Supreme Court judge lifted the injunction, which had blocked members of the Justice Team from carrying on the unionﾒs business.
However, Justice Jeanne Thompson is still considering whether to quash the contested union election results, which Pat Bainﾒs Rainbow Team has asked her to do.
In June, the judge issued an order which blocked Justice Team members, who were declared winners in the controversial May elections, from acting as the unionﾒs executive team.
Those members include Kirk Wilson, Lionel Morley, Sidney Rolle, Anwar Taylor, Basil McKenzie, Francis Gray, Kayla Bodie, Ian Neely, Brian Collie and Quincey Munroe.
When she made her June order, the judge had ruled that the executive team that existed prior to the election would remain in place until the judicial review is completed, but her latest action had reversed that.
After Director of Labour Harcourt Brown declared a tie between Mr. Bain and Mr. Colebrooke, the Justice Team took legal action.
The application for judicial review seeks an order of certiorari quashing the certificate of results of the contested union elections, a declaration that the election is void, and damages, among other remedies.
However, General Secretary Leo Douglas, who was the only member of the Rainbow Team declared a winner, said the latest action is not a win for either side. Mr. Douglas, the incumbent, held on to his position by three votes.
Mr. Bain and Mr. Colebrooke tied in the recent union elections, according to the Department of Labour, at 1,043 votes each.
By: Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
